Abstract:
Rural landuse has recently emerged as an issue of major concern in New Zealand. This thesis identifies some of the processes of decision-making about rural landuse and in particular explains the cultural context of those decisions. Comparisons are made between the practise and statutes of landuse planning and the observed behaviour of rural landuse allocation. These themes are explored in the setting of the Taupo region in the central part of the North Island. The distinctive mix of rural landuses in this area: wilderness, exotic forest, and pastoral agriculture, along with the recency of development and intimate involvement of the Crown in that development, provide insights into the way in which land is allocated to uses, and material for examining the concepts advanced, while contributing to knowledge of this important rural area.